Over the last year, the Lord has done much work and preparation in my heart. As any good Father does, this preparation has also come with warnings to heed.
There have been two recurring themes:
- He has a plan
- Don’t be distracted
I find it no coincidence that the more I press in to pray about stepping into things, the more distractions pop up.
As I have reached stages in my walk this year where I’ve been pressing into more of Jesus, there never fails to be something that pops up and serves to distract me.
Work.
Relationships with others.
Ministry.
The places that I care most about – my family and friends.
Many years ago, a friend and I went to a Todd Agnew worship event in Kingsport. I can’t tell you the songs we sang but I can tell you this one story he told. It has stayed with me.
He said the Lord had been having him research sheep, because we are sheep in the flock and he is our shepherd. He said he assumed God had him researching sheep because they’re fluffy and cute, they’re useful and provide resources in their wool, they stick together, etc.
Instead as he researched sheep and spoke with a farmer who started to give him attributes of sheep. 1. They’re smelly 2. They don’t always listen like they should 3. They are dumb.
That third one was actually one he wanted to explore, so he asked for an explanation. The farmer told him that sheep are often so singularly focused they become consumed with the task at hand. For instance, they start eating and they don’t pay attention to their proximity to the other sheep, they just eat grass and find more grass (and repeat).
Meaning sometimes they are busy doing something and don’t look up. When they don’t look up, they can become separated from the flock and find themselves in need of rescue (cause, again, sheep are dumb).
Sound familiar? It has stayed with me for 10+ years because I saw the similarity between myself and sheep in that moment.
In my own experience, I don’t always realize there’s a distraction at play at first (sneaky snooks).
I simply become absorbed with the task at hand and suddenly, I look up and here I am. Not necessarily separated but sometimes withdrawn and a bit closed off to others. Somehow now off to the side of the purposeful area I once stood. Sometimes in a place that may leave me discouraged, broken, or feeling a bit out of sorts.
The same way that sheep was never meant to be where they are, neither am I (or you).
You know what’s beautiful though?!?
Jesus.
He’s a shepherd that will leave the 99 to find the 1 who wandered off and bring them back to their place of purpose (just like a physical sheep farmer will do for one in his flock).
So if you find yourself today in a place you’re not certain of, maybe you were heads down and just looked up wondering where you are, maybe you drifted knowingly and aren’t sure how to move forward, maybe you found yourself in another situation entirely – cry out. Your shepherd will hear you, he will meet you where you are, he will find you and bring you right back.
You’re never too far, too lost, too distracted.
Luke 15:4-7
❤️
Just Between Me & Jesus 